Mumbai School asks parents to submit ‘No Objection’ letter for new fee structure

Parents of Std I students studying in Indian Education Society (IES) in Ash Lane, Dadar West, are in an extraordinary conundrum. The school is simply not processing the admissions of their wards till they submit a ‘no objection’ to the new fee structure to the school in writing. However, the fee hike is the very bone of contention for the parents.

Confused and at a loss of way out, many parents approached BMC's education department on Thursday complaining about the fee hike and the letter they are being asked to submit by the school. Parents claimed that it was highly distressing that while most schools are set to start from the second week of June, they are clueless when IES is reopening. Parents also said that, though the BMC education officer reportedly forwarded their complaint to the education department, they are yet to get a reply from the latter.

A parent said, "The school has hiked fees last year from Rs18,000 to Rs35,000, and this year too it increased the same to Rs39,000."

"BMC's education department on April 27 stayed the admission of Std I based on our complaints over the fee hike. But there has been no response from the state. When many of us panicked and gathered at the school to know when it would start, we were told to give in writing that we accept the new fee structure," said another parent, adding, "In April when we protested, the school had said that the government was not reimbursing it the 25% quota admission fees, and hence, we would have to bear that."

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President of Forum for Fairness in Education Jayant Jain said, "Firstly, the school cannot increase fees every year, according to the rules of the education department, and secondly, it cannot take such letters from parents in order to reopen."

The school authorities refused to answer to any question posed to them.